Riverscape scale analysis of fish/habitat relationships

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

The general objectives of the research program is to better understand how fish exploits, over their life cycle, the mosaic of physical habitats comprised within an entire river system, also called the riverscape. This program involves projects grouped under three major research thrusts: 1) the development of innovative mapping and spatial analysis methods of physical habitat mosaics at riverscape scale 2) the identification of variable tactics of habitat exploitation by fish and their consequences on fitness 3) the analysis of the effect of habitat fragmentation by obstacles to fish movement on fish production. Taking Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) as an ecological model, the research will target two specific objectives over the next five years: (1) assess the variability in spatial behaviour of juvenile Atlantic salmon (JAS) and its consequence on growth and survival, (2) investigate JAS swimming capacity and behaviour in culverts, which will provide a predictive model of JAS upstream passage success through velocity barriers in culverts. The general scientific approach will be to use a combination of stationary and mobile PIT (Passive Integrated Transponder) systems to track the movement of individually PIT-tagged juvenile salmons in rivers and inside culverts. The work will provide stream ecologist and stream managers with highly novel tools and information concerning the dynamics of riverine ecosystems that will help assess, predict and mitigate the impact of anthropogenic disturbances on Canadian river ecosystems.